Improvement in bustles for ladiess dresses



G. v. & E. -A. PIERCE.

Bustle.

Patented Nov. 23, 1858.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE V. PIERCE AND EDWIN A. PIERCE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN BUSTLES FOR LADIES DRESSES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22, [33, dated November 23, 1858.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, GEORGE V. PIERCE and EDWIN A. PIERCE, of the city and State of New York, have invented, made, and ap plied to use a certain new and useful Improvement in Bishops for Ladies Dresses; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved bishop with a portion of the outer covering removed, and Fig. 2 is a section of said bishop near the center.

Si milar marks of reference indicate the same parts.

Our invention relates to the article known as bishops or *bustles made use of by ladies to keep the skirtof the dress away from the person at the waist, and most particularly at the back part of the dress. Our invention has no connection with extensionskirts surrounding the waist and legs.

Various devices-such as cushions of tow, horse-hair, wool, &c.-have heretofore been used for bustles; but on account of the room they occupy, the heat of the same, and their weight they are inconvenient and uncomfortable to the wearer.

Our invention obviates all previously-existing difficulties; and it consists in the use of curved springs,of steel or equivalent material, arranged in a peculiar manner in an outer covering or thickness of material, or connected in skeleton form. and an inner lining or connection between the ends of the curved springs, whereby their general shape is maintained, and the whole is very light, cool, flexible, and convenientin use, and may be packed for transportation in a very small space.

In the drawings, a a are the curved steel watch-springs, or their equivalents, that are sewed in radially between two crescent-shaped pieces, b b, by which the lateral positions of the spring are maintained.

0 c are curved springs attached to the springs a a near their upper ends, which tend to stiffen and strengthen said springs near the body of the wearer and prevent breaking by pressure in leaning back, causing too sudden a bend in the springs a a.

g is the inner lining or connection between the ends of the springs a a, and the parts are to be firmly attached to each other by riveting or otherwise at the points 1 1 and 2 2.

(Z is a tape or binding around the upper edge of the bishop, forming, also, the strings by which the same is attached to the person, and e is a binding around the lower edge of said bust-1e.

f is a tape or strap passing through loops 3 3, whereby the lower and outer ends of the springs a a and the bishop can be more or less drawn to the person and regulate the size of said bishop.

h is a curtain or tlouncing, which may be used if desired.

It will be thus seen that our bishop or bustle is light and cool, and that the springs cannot change their position, although yielding easily to any strain or pressure.

What we claim as our invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The springs a a, fitted into a bishop or bustle, in combination with a lining or strap forming a straight line of connection between the ends of said springs, for the purposes set forth.

2. In combination with said springs a a, fitted into a bishop or bustle in the manner specified, the springs c 0, arranged and acting in the manner and for the purposes described.

3. The strap or tapef, in combination with the springs a a and bustle. substantially as and for the purposes specified.

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our signatures this 8th day of September, 1858.

G. V. PIERCE. E. A. PIERCE.

IVitnesses:

LEMUEL WV. SERRELL, THOMAS G. HAROLD. 

